Should Freelancers Pay Social Security? A Personal Guide
In February 2022, after resigning from her job, Xiaoz began her career as a freelancer. Two years later, she noticed online discussions regarding social security for freelancers and decided to share her personal experience to help others.
Introduction
Since social security contribution bases and policies vary by location, Xiaoz will use Chengdu as the reference for this discussion. Readers are welcome to share their local experiences in the comments.
Should You Pay Social Security?
This is a controversial issue. Some freelancers Xiaoz knows choose not to pay social security, but it ultimately depends on individual needs and circumstances. Based on the current situation in Chengdu, Xiaoz recommends paying social security for the following reasons:
- Bank account opening often requires proof of social security.
- Purchasing a property typically requires a social security record.
- Household registration (Hukou) depends on social security contributions.
- Handling various administrative matters may also require social security verification.
My Social Security Payment Methods
Employee Social Security
Initially, Xiaoz asked a friend to pay social security on her behalf, making her appear as an employee of the friend's company. While there are many online agencies offering this service, their compliance is uncertain. To avoid potential future complications, Xiaoz generally does not recommend agency代缴 (proxy payment).
Flexible Employment Social Security
In March 2023, Xiaoz registered her own studio, asked her friend to stop the proxy payment, and began paying flexible employment social security independently.
Freelancers in Chengdu can follow the "Chengdu Social Security" WeChat official account, navigate to the "Social Security Services" menu in the bottom bar to handle flexible employment social security registration and payment (no need to visit offline). Subsequently, payments can also be made via various bank apps (e.g., ICBC).
Flexible Employment Social Security Costs
Flexible employment social security differs from standard employee social security. In Chengdu, it only includes "Medical Insurance" and "Pension Insurance" (maternity, work-related injury, and unemployment insurance cannot be paid; policies may vary in other regions). Xiaoz chose the minimum contribution tier, with the following monthly costs:
- Medical Insurance:
537.80CNY - Pension Insurance:
849.20CNY
The total monthly payment is 1387 CNY, which is quite a burden, and these fees increase annually.
Conclusion
The above outlines the social security payment methods and costs for flexible employment in Chengdu, intended as a reference for other freelancers. Additionally, Xiaoz has created a freelancer community group; interested individuals can scan the QR code below to join.
